Electrical contact and connection means



July 18, 1939. H, A, DOUGLAS '2,166,345

ELECTRICAL CONTACT AND CONNECTION MEANS Filed July 8, 1935 Hosea A\ Doula 1N VLNTOQ Patented July 18, 1939 PATENT OFFICE 2,166,345 ELECTRICAL CONTACT. AND CONNECTON MEANS Harry A; Douglas, Bronson, Mich., assignor to Kingston Products Corporation, a corporation oi' Indiana Application July 8,

7 Claims.

My invention relates to electrical contact and connection means, such as may be used or embodied in electrical switches and the like, and more particularly to terminal receiving means for cooperation with so-called snap terminals and contact members associated with the terminal receiving means, and the principal object of my invention is to provide new and improved electrical Contact means of these types. In the drawing accompanying this specification, and forming a part of this application, I have shown, for purposes of illustration, one form which my invention may assume. In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view partly in longitudinal section and partly in elevation showing one embodiment of my invention, used in an electric switch,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of one of the combined contact means and terminal receiving means shown in Figure 1, the base of the switch being' fragmentarily shown,

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, with a plug conductor terminal added,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a detail of the base shown in Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the disassembled parts of the combined contact means and terminal receiving means.

Referring in detail to the drawing, Figure 1 shows a switch l0 mounted on a panel II. The switch Il! includes relatively movable elements comprising, in this instance, a rotatable insulating disc I2 carrying a contact plate I3 cooperable with a plurality of'contacts I4, l5, I6 forming part of a plurality of unitary contact-terminal posts I1, I8, I9 supported by a base 20 in a manner to be further described, The base is fastened to and supported in any suitable manner by a cup-shaped casing 2l, the end wall 22 of which is fastened to a tubular threaded member 23, which is disposed through an aperture 24 in the panel II and fastened to the panel II in any suitable manner, as by nuts 25. The insulating disc I2 is carried in any suitable manner and rotatable by an operating member 26 here shown in the form of a dished metallic disc fastened to an end of an actuating shaft 21, rotatably disposed within the tubular member 23. The other end of the shaftV 21 is provided with an operating handle 28 suitably fastened thereto.

The contact-terminal post I8 is mounted in axial alinement with the center of the insulating disc I2 and the contact I5 of the contact-terminal post I8 is adapted to engage walls of a recess 29 formed in the contact plate I3. The contact I6 1935, Serial No. 30,282

of the contact-terminal post I9 is shown in engagement with another recess, 30, in the plate I3 spaced radially from the central recess 29; and the contact I4 of the contact-terminal post I1 is shown in engagement with walls of a recess 3| formed in the insulating disc I2 itself, spaced .radially the same distance from the central recess 29, so that, in the position of the parts shown, the contacts I5, I6 are electrically connected by the plate I3, Whereas the contact I4 is unconnected to any portion of the contact plate I3. It will be understood that the number of contacts I4, I5, I6 and their relative location, and the configuration of the contact plate I3, or plates if desired, may be of various numbers and forms, depending on the number of circuits it is desired to control and the manner in which it is desired to control them.

Referring now more particularly to the unitary contact-terminal post I1 shown in detail in Figures 2, 3, and 5. The contact-terminal post I1 comprises a socket member 32 in which thev contact I4 is reciprocably mounted. The socket member 32 is here shown as of generally square cross-section, having opposite Walls 33, 34 forming integral extensions of the legs of a loop 35, the loop providing an aperture 36. The socket member has opposite walls 31, 38, at right angles to the walls 33, 34,v each Wall 31, 38 being formed in halves 39, 40, the wall halves 39 being integral with the wall 33 and the wall halves 40 being integral with the wall 34. The wall halves 39, 40 are each provided `at the bottom thereof (as viewed in Figure 5) with a lateral extension or foot 4I. The Walls 33, 34 are similarly each provided with a lateral extension or foot 42, these feet 42 being here shown as somewhat wider than the feet 4I on the Wall halves 31, 38. The opposite walls 33, 34 are provided with alined apertures 43, 44, here shown as of square shape, in which apertures 43, 44 are slidably disposed projections 45, 46, of rectangular cross-section, on a detent means 41. The detent means 41 is here shown as formed of sheet metal of generally square dished form to t slidably Within the socket member 32. The detent means 41 is here shown` as provided with a hemispherical protuberance 48 pressed upwardly (as viewed in Figure 5) from the inside of the dish shaped portion of the detent means. The detent means 41 is also provided with another pair of projections 49, 58, of rectangular cross- Section, extending from the sides of the' dish shaped portion of the detent means, at right angles to the sides from which the projections 45, 48 extend, and these projections 49, 5,0 are disposed slidably in a pair of alined apertures 5I, 52 formed by recessing the adjacent margins of the wall halves 39, 4I] of the walls 31, 38. These apertures 5I, 52 are generally rectangular in crosssection and have their upper margins, as viewed in Figure 5, in the same plane as the upper margins of the apertures 43, 44. The lower margins of the apertures 5I, 52 are below the lower margins of the smaller apertures 43, 44.

The contact I4 is here shown as made of sheet metal and having a contact portion proper 53, with an outwardly curved surface, provided with two pairs of oppositely disposed legs 54, 55 and 56, 51 tapering toward their ends and extending at right angles to the contact portion proper 53. The legs 54, 55, 56, 51 serve, among other things, to guide the contact I4 for reciprocating movement in the socket member 32. The .legs 56, 51 are each provided with a laterally outwardly bent extension 58, of reduced width, slidably disposed in the apertures 5I, 52. Disposed within the socket member 32, between the detent means 41 and the contact I4 is a helical spring 59, one end of which engages the inside of the dish shaped portionof the detent means 41 and the other end of which engages the inside surface of the curved contact portion proper of the contact I4. The detent means 41 is thus biased toward the right (as viewed in Figures 1, 2, and

'3) toward the aperture 36 formed by the loop 35,

so that the projections 45, 46, 49, 50 on the detent means 41 engage and are stopped by the right hand margins of the apertures 43, 44, 5I, 52 in the walls 33, 34, 31, 38 of the socket member 32. In that position, the outside surface of the dished portion of the detent means 41 extends somewhat beyond the right hand margins of the walls 31, 38, in the illustrated embodiment. At the same time, the spring 59 biases the contact I4 in the opposite direction so that the lateral projections 58 engage and are stopped by the left hand margins of the apertures 5I, 52.

It will be evident from the hereinbefcre described construction that the socket member 32, the loop 35, and the feet 4I, 42 may all be made of a single piece of sheet metal. Before the loop 35 is fully bent to the form shown in the drawing, the detent means 41 is inserted within the walls 33, 34, 31, 38 including also the spring 59 and the contact I4. The halves of the socket member 32 may then be moved toward each other, the detent 41, spring 59, and contact I4 having the positions shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, when the free margins of the wall halves 39, 49 of the walls 31, 38 meet in lines or planes of contact 60. The assembly then constitutes a self contained unitary contact-terminal post I1.

All that is necessary in order to mount the unitary contact-terminal post I1 on the insulating base 20 is to insert it through an aperture 6| in the base, the aperture 6I being generally square in cross-section and tting the exterior of the socket member 32. The aperture 6I may be counter-sunk by a generally cylindrical recess 62, so that the bottoms of the feet 4I, 42 will be flush with the front face of the insulating base 20. The tops of the feet 4I, 42 bear against the bottom of the cylindrical recess 62, thereby limiting insertion of the unitary contact-terminal post I1 inthe base 20. The square cross-section aperture 6I in the base is here shown as provided in two of its opposite walls with longitudinally extending channels or recesses 63, 64 in which the lateral projections 58 on the contact I4 are free to move, these lateral projections 58 extending, in the present embodiment, beyond the outer faces of the walls 31, 38.

The unitary contact-terminal posts I9, I9 are shown as identical with the unitary contact-terminal post I1, and are insertable through apertures in the base 20, identical with the aperture 6I for the contact-terminal post I1, and require no further description.

When the unitary contact-terminal posts I1, I8, I9 have been assembled with the base 28, in the manner already described in connection with the contact-terminal post I1, the base 20 may then be assembled with and fastened to the casing 2|, and the springs 59 of the contact-terminal posts I1, I8, I9 are thereby compressed to a predetermined extent by engagement of the contacts I4, I5, I6 either with the contact plate I3 or with the insulating disc I2. Thus the springs 59 serve to bias the respective contacts I4, I5, I6 against the insulating disc I2 and the contact plate I3 and also serve to bias in the opposite direction the detent means 41 respectively associated therewith.

Electrical connection may then be made to the contact-terminal posts I1, I8, I9 by inserting plug conductor terminals in the apertures formed by the respective loops 35. One form of conductor terminal, 65, suitable for use with the terminal receiving means is shown in Figure 3, this conductor terminal 65 comprising a generally cylindrical portion 66 having a frustro-conical end 61 and an annular furrow 68 in the cylindrical portion 66. The conductor terminal 5 may be fastened to a conductor 69 disposed therein, by swedging, as indicated by swedge indentations 10. When the conductor terminal 65 is inserted in the aperture 36, the frustro-conical portion 61 moves the detent means 41 toward the left, as viewed in Figure 3, by cam action, against the bias of the spring 59, further inserting movement causing the hemispherical portion 48 of the detent means 41 to snap into the annular fur,- roW 68.

It will be evident that the apertures 6I, of which there is one for each unitary contactterminal post, I1, I8, I9 and so on, being of noncircular outline, conforming generally to the cross-sectional outline of the socket member 32, will prevent turning of the contact-terminal posts about their axes. Also, the apertures 6I have their cross-sectional axes so disposed that plug conductor terminals, such as 65, may be inserted in al1 of the conductor terminal receiving means, without interference with each other.

From the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the illustrated embodiment of my invention provides a new and improved electrical contact and connection means, readily and lconveniently constructed and assembled, and accordingly, accomplishes at least the principal object of my invention. On the other hand, it also will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the illustrated .embodiment of my invention may be variously changed and modied, or features thereof, singly or collectively, embodied in other combinations than those illustrated, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or sacrificing all of the advantages thereof, and that accordingly, the disclosure herein is illustrative only, and my invention is K not limited thereto.

formed slots in the marginal surface thereof; a 75 body constructed of sheet material, disposed in said aperture, and having an integral loop portion arched axially over said support aperture providing a conductor terminal receiving aperture, said body having projections disposed in predetermined relation with respect to the axis of said receiving aperture; said projections and the slots in said support aperture being constructed and arranged to interengage when said body is assembled with said support, so that the axis of said receiving aperture is disposed in predetermined relation about the axis of said support aperture.

2. Electrical connection means, comprising: a support, having an aperture, the marginal surface of which is formed with diametrically opposed grooves extending in an axial direction; a body constructed of sheet material, having outwardly bent feet extending transversely from one end, and fingers extending from opposite sides of said body and slidably receivable within said grooves; said body being of a transverse size to slidably fit within said support aperture, and being assemblable with said support by aligning said ngers with said grooves and insetting the opposite end of said body into said support aperture, said feet engaging a surface of said support to limit inserting movement of said body, and said lingers positioning said body in predetermined radial relation with respect to said support aperture and being adapted to slide within said grooves after said body is fixed in said aperture.

3. Electrical connection means,- comprising: a support, having an aperture, the marginal surface of which is formed with diametrically opposed grooves extending in an axial direction, said support having a recess in one surface countersinking said aperture; a body, having outwardly bent feet extending transversely from one end, and iingers extending from opposite sides of said body and slidably receivable within said grooves; said body being of a transverse size to slidably iit within said support aperture, and being assemblable with said support by aligning said fingers with said grooves and inserting the opposite end of said body through said recess and into said support aperture, said feet engaging the bottom of `said recess to limit inserting movement of said body and having a thickness proportionate to the depth of said recess so that the outer surfaces of said feet are flush with said one surface of said support, and said fingers positioning said body in predetermined radial relation with respect to said support aperture.

4. Electrical connection means, comprising: a support, having an aperture, the marginal surface of which is formed with a groove extending in an axial direction; a tubular body, having a slot in its marginal wall extending in a longitudinal direction, and having outwardly bent foot means extending transversely from one end, said body4 being of a transverse size to slidably iit within said support aperture; a member, at least partially disposed within said body for slidable movement longitudinally of said body, having a finger slidable within said body slot, and engaging margins of said slot to limit movement of said member, said finger projecting beyond the outline of said body and being receivable within said groove; said body being assemblable with said support by aligning said finger with said groove and inserting the opposite end of said body into said support aperture, said foot means engaging a surface of said support to limit inserting movement of said body, the projecting portion of said finger engaging the marginal surfaces of said groove to position said body in predetermined radial relation with respect to said support aperture.

5. Electrical connection means, comprising: a

support, having a polygonal aperture formed with axially extending grooves in opposed marginal surfaces; a tubular sheet-metal body, having a rst pair of longitudinally extending slots in opposed marginal walls, and a second pair of longitudinally extending slots in other opposed marginal Walls, said body having also a loop at one end for receiving a conductor terminal, and outwardly bent .foot means extending transversely from the opposite open end, and said body being of a polygonal transverse size to slidably fit within said support aperture; a member, at least partially disposed within said body adjacent lsaid opposite open end for slidable movement longitudinally of said body, having opposed fingers respectively slidable within said iirst pair of body slots, and engaging margins of said slots to limit movement of said member, said lingers projecting .beyond the outline of said body and being receivable within respective support aperture grooves; a detent.slidable longi tudinally within said body, and having fingers respectively slidable within said second pair of slots, and engaging margins of said slots to limit movement of said detent, said detent communieating with. said loop; a slngleresilient means,

disposed within said body betweensaid member.

and said detent, urging said member outwardly of said body and said detent toward said loop to `vieldably engage a conductor terminal in said loop; said body being assemblable with said support by aligning said member fingers with said support aperture grooves and inserting said loop of said body into said support aperture, said foot means engaging a surface of said support to limit inserting movement of said body, the projecting portion of said iingers engaging the mar- Y ginal surfaces of said grooves to position said body in predetermined radial relation with respect to said support aperture.

6. Electrical connection means, comprising: a

support, having an aperture, the marginal sur-J' face of which is formed wlthdiametrically opposed grooves extending in an axial direction, said support having a recess in one surface countersinking said aperture; a tubular body constructed of sheet' material, having outwardly bent feet extending transversally from one extremity, and fingers extending from opposite sides of said body and slidably receivable within said grooves; said body being of a transverse size to slidably fit within said support aperture whereby said body will be held in place by friction, and being assemblable with said support by aligning said :lingers with said grooves andinserting the opposite extremity of said body through said recess and into said support aperture, said feet engaging the bottom of said recess to limit inserting movement of said body and having a thickness proportionate to the depth of said recess solthat the outersurfaces of said feet are iiush with said one surface of said support, and said iingers positioningl said body in predetermined radial relation with .respect to said support aperture.

7. Electrical connection means, comprising: a support, having an aperture, the marginal surface of which is formed with a groove extending in an axial' direction; a tubular body, having a f slot in its marginal wall extending in a longitudinal direction, and having outwardly bent foot means extending transversely from one end, said body being of a transverse size to slidably it Within said support aperture; a member, at least partially disposed within said body for slidable movement longitudinally of said body, having a finger slidable within said body slot, said nger projecting beyond the outline o said body and .w being receivable within said groove; said body being assemblable with said support by aligning said nger with said groove and inserting the opposite end of said body into said support aperture, said foot means engaging a surface of said support to limit inserting movement of said body, the projecting portion of said nger engaging the marginal surfaces of said groove to position said body in predetermined radial relation with respect to said support aperture.

HARRY A. DOUGLAS. 

